Straus questions Gov. Abbott endorsement of House primary challenger

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on Friday questioned Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to endorse against a GOP member of the lower chamber, suggesting it could lead to a Democrat capturing the seat.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus announces he won't seek re-election in 2018 at a press conference at the state Capitol on Oct. 25, 2017.
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on Friday questioned Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to endorse against a GOP member of the lower chamber, suggesting it could lead to a Democrat capturing the seat.

Last month, Abbott gave his backing to Susanna Dokupil, who is running against state Rep. Sarah Davis of West University Place. The endorsement was the first time Abbott had thrown his support to a House primary challenger — and is not expected to be the last.

Asked Friday if it is an effective strategy for Abbott to endorse against GOP incumbents, Straus expressed bemusement — and some derision.

"You have to ask him and David Carney," Straus told reporters after an event in Austin, referring to Abbott and his top political adviser. "I don't know what his goal is, but if his goal is to flip a Republican seat in Harris County to the Democrats, that'd be a pretty effective way to do it."

After Abbott endorsed Dokupil, Davis' campaign and other Republicans aligned with her suggested Dokupil would lose the general election in House District 134 because she is too conservative. Hillary Clinton carried the district by 15 percentage points in 2016 after Mitt Romney won it by roughly the same margin in 2012.

Straus, who is not seeking re-election himself, promised to have Davis' back in 2018, offering an emphatic answer when asked whether he will support her over Dokupil.

"Oh, hell yeah," Straus replied. "She's going to get plenty of help. She'll get more help now than I think she would've otherwise."

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